Penn 500 has a higher retrieve speed than the 209. Penn 500 has bigger drag washers than the 209. Penn 500 has the quick-change system for easily swapping out spools. Penn 500 has no levelwind. I believe the Penn 500 comes with a bigger handle than the 209, but they are interchangeable. I prefer the 500's handle length. If you want something easier to cast, get a reel with lower spool capacity. Maybe a Jigmaster 501 or 506, or a Surfmaster 150, or a Squidder 140 or 145 or 146. Make sure to get one with an aluminum spool. Plastic spools will cast even better but they're ancient (some people say the spools get brittle with age) and don't like lots of mono (too much mono can lead to a busted spool). Interesting note, plastic spools for Squidders usually have impeller-type fins on one side. These fins are an early form of cast control.
I remember all these Penn reels from the ’60s/’70s, ... Great reels made for the working class people but not exactly cheap, to say the least, but affordable to everyone I was a kid then and I had the Squidder because my hand was too small for the Jigmaster but I cast the hell out of my Squidder… now I'm 63 and have been collecting vintage and unused Abu reels, 2 of the 10000c, 1 of the 9000c, and 1 of the 7000c, .. I’ve learned these reels were made by watchmakers which explains how solid and very well made these reels are... Back to the Penn reels, ... I will be looking for some unused Penn reels from the 60’s era, ... There's something all should do for these reels replace the spool bearings with Abec 7, balance the spool and you have a real Bad Ass reel…! It's all about the bearings…! I've taken down many big Stripers mostly on Penn reels..! Good luck to all.. 🤙😎👌
Penn 500 and 209 reels don't have ball bearings; they use bushings. Most old Penn post-and-plate type reels use bushings. Squidders are the exception. Use of Abec 7 bearings on conventional reels with heavy spools only makes such reels more difficult to control. A Penn 500's spool more than qualifies - even the old plastic ones! I would like to hear more about how you balance your spools.
the 500 has bigger drag washers then the 209, the 500 uses the same washers as the 309, your 209's big brother. get some HT-100 drag washers and replace the washers in both. Then back the star drag off when you aren't fishing with them, the drag washer will last longer. Go to 2nd Chance Tackle on youtube, to see how to work on them, Dennis will help you learn how
Penn 500 reels have come with a number of different types of spool over the years. Capacity varies by the type of spool. 900 yards of 20lb mono on the Penn 500 (1:05)? Nope, nowhere near, not even for spools with the narrowest arbors. Per Penn's website, line capacity of the present-day 500 Jigmaster is 411/0.46 274/0.56 237/0.61 (yards/mm) Per Ande's website, Ande Premium has the following diameters: 20# 0.45mm
